Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 561: Deadwood Dick — page 3: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Deadwood Dick in Boston. But I hin fact Lam sure, you will pot «ielay the gel. I care no more, particularly, for mother, bi want to find my father.” ’ he is alive, you shall have him restored ien, I will restrain my anxiety. ta,” Dick replied. ‘If he is dead, you shall ik’ where his remains are.” ‘hank you, sir. You bave been very kind ¢e, and I am sincerely grateful. More than t I cannot well be, until you are more sub- stially rewarded,” Op! that’s all right!” Dick replied. ‘* For ‘present I will defray what expenses we in- , but you can bet I will make your felonious sher pay me for my trouble! A friend of oppressed I always have been, and always ll be. Now, there are a few more circum- neces I desire to understand before I enter ly into the investigation. Your father has ; an absent from home exactly five weeks from b>] “““* He started for Boston?” ac Yes.” ** He arrived in Boston?” “Yes. I received a telegram immediately ifter his arrival.” ‘You have heard nothing from him since?” ‘*No. I telegraphed to the chief of police, but nothing has been seen of such a person.” ‘‘ You have told me, that six years ago, when your mother fled, she took with her all her dia- monds, some of which were very valuable, one of them, in particular, being an exceedingly large stone imbedded in a ring of solid gold, in- side which ring were the initials, ‘C. C,’” be Yes,” ‘‘ The ring belonged to your father?” : “Tt did. It was a present to him from a syn- dicate of mining speculators, and must have cost one thousand dollars at least.” ._“ Very well. That is all, to-day, so I will go down tc the reading-room, read the papers, and get what information I[ can about the Hub.” Dick descended to the reading room, and was goon engaged in perusing the evening papers. CHAPTER III, THE GLENROY SPLIT. For upward of two hours Dick perused the papers, and, singularly enough, came upon nothing but two interesting advertisements. The first read: “WANTED. ‘*A smart young man. experienced in the pawn- broker’s business. ApRly to “* Moses Mums, ‘*._ Hanover street.” : , ig & ' . The other was: ** WANTED. ‘“*A young man as time-keeper. ‘*Ggeor@E GLENRoy & Co.” These two advertisements so much interested the detective that he at once made a memoran- (oan \ dum of them in his note-book, and left the hotel. { “T}i pay Mr. Mumb a visit,” he decided, “and after that tackle the Glenroys. If harm came to Calvin Cool, I mean to get at the bot- tom facts; and that harm did come to him, since he did not communicate with his daughter, and since his errand to Boston was of such a peculiar character, I feel sure.” Dick found his way to Number — Hanover street, and also found that the establishment of Moses Mumb was in the second story of a brick | building. Ringing the bell, which was a pre- ; liminary to admittance, the detective was ad- mitted by a sudden self-opening of the door. The usually varied appurtenances of a pawn- ; broker’s office were the principal features of the ae room, and the jolly, plethoric-looking man be- hie hind the counter was evidently the proprietor. His appearance did not betoken a Jew; in fact, he looked more like a full-fledged Amer- t ican, aa, “ Are you Mr. Mumb?” Dick inquired, ap- — en proaching the counter. | 6 1 am,” was the reply. ‘* What can I do for ou ’ at depends!” Dick replied. ‘‘I believe you were formerly a resident of Leadville?” : “Oh! oe ae, ‘*- You knew one Calvin Cool, a mining-specu- lator?” ; ‘““Very intimately. We were firm friends, and he was a gentleman, every inch of him.” “You knew his daughter, | suppose?” ‘““Oh! certainly, I knew her well, and a most charming young lady she was. Had I been ofa marriageable inclination I fancy I should have | proposed to her,” and here the man of avoirdu- Sie pois shook his sides with laughter. “Well, I don’t know that I can blame you,” “ce Dick replied; ‘* but I have a letter of introduc- tion for you, from Miss Cool,” and he presented the missive to the pawnbroker, who scrutinized it with interest. ‘* Indeed!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ Why is Miss Cool in search of her father?” ‘*He has now been five weeks from home, without being beard from since he reached Bos- ton, and knowing that he came upon an im- ortant mission, she is here in search of bim. Vhen away from home he was particularly | prompt in communicating with his daughter, hence her alarm, He came East with a con- siderable sum of money.” ** Ah!” and the pawnbroker knitted bis brows, ‘*Tf any barm has come to Mr. Cool I am surely very sorry. You are adetective?” ac I am.” **Can you show any proof?” ‘*T reckon this ought to be sufficient proof,” Dick said, exhibiting his badge. ‘*Exactly. [am glad to have met you, Mr. Bristol, and for Miss Cool’s sake will tender you any assistance in my power. Calvin Cool did arrive in Boston, for, we being former friends he hunted me up, and we had a most pleasant chat together!” 3 Here Mumb’s eyes twinkled strangely, it struck Dick. ‘The presumption that he had likely paid you a visit is what brought me here,” Dick ad- mitted. ‘‘ Did Mr. Cool make any reference to his business in Boston?” ‘*No, be did not. He did, however, rermark that he was here on a rather strange errand, and, as he was doubtful about what the result would he, he left a sum of money in my care, to be surrendered to his daughter in case he did not turn up within thirty days. The time will be PR to-morrow.” ** And you have not seen Cool since?” **Not a sign of him. It has been somewhat of a puzzle to me, you may rest assured, and an annoyance, for while [ am a Hebrew, and a wnbroker, I always conduct my dealings with onor and integrity, and no one in Boston can say that Moses Mumb is guilty of extortion, trickery or dishonesty. In my dealings, my motto is ‘ Live and let live.’ That’s what gain- ed me the respect of Calvin Cool!” **Good! I am satisfied you are a right- minded and honorable man, and [ appreciate your confidence, sir,” Dick hegrtily declared. ‘‘Tf we had more of your sort, my yocation would be on the decline. Have you ever heard that Mr. Cool had some family trouble a few years ago?” **It was hinted to me by him, but I never poke my nose into other people’s business, and never will. I have got plenty to do to attend to my own, although, for Calvin Cool’s sake, I would do almost anything. I cannot adequate- ly express to you the affection I have for that man. ‘* Let me tell you the story. One bitter win- ter night, dead-broke, and completely worn ont from tramping, I, as a peddler, without tbe — of a meal in = pocket, hit the town of adville, Colorado. had met with tough luck for weeks, and went to Leadville with the hope and expectation of making my fortune, or at least money enough to send some home to my children, Rachael and Levi. ‘‘When I reached the town—they had no good accommodations then—I tried the dif- ferent shanty hotels for a night’s lodging, trust- ing on the result of to-morrow’s sales for the rest. But, I couldn’t make it work. They re- fused me everywhere—one man even kicked me out into the street, and actually stole my stock- in-trade, At last, thoroughly disheartened, I went out, put my pistol to my forehead, and should have blown my brains out, bad not this man Cool come up at that moment, and pre- vented me from doing so. He took me to his home, fed me, and, later on, established me in business. ‘*T shall never forget his kindness, and if by re out my business here I could help him out of trouble, I would willingly do so.” “There will be no need of that,” Dick as- sured. ‘If Mr. Cool is found, it will be cunning, not money, that will prove the chief factor in discovering him. It appears quite evident to me that some trouble has befallen the tle- man, or else he would have communicated with his daughter. Do you know a man by the name of George Glenroy?” | at | do, indeed. He is an occasional customer of mine. . - customer of yours? In what way, may I as ‘** Business transactions are confidential, you know,” Moses replied, with a smile. | ‘“‘ Not necessarily so, to a detective,” Dick de- clared. ‘‘My power can be made authority and, as Mr, Glenroy is concerned in the case I have in hand, I wish an answer.” Mumb looked doubtful for a moment, then he brightened up and said: ‘* Well, if it concerns the case of my friend Cool, of course I cannot refuse you the informa- tion. Mr. Glenroy Is a speculator, and as often meets with reverses as he wins. Heis an invet- erate gambler in stocks, and when_he loses he invariably puts up his diamonds. He is a very high-toned man, but his wife is a spendthrift, in a fashionable sense, and makes Glenroy bustle to make ends meet.” “Why, I thought the Glenroys were rich.” ‘““Oh, they are reputed to be, but, it is us pewnbrokers who are able to judge about many people’s real financial condition. That Mrs. Glenroy bas money, I am sure, but mighty little of it he gets. He owns real estate, an interest in a steam-tug, and horses, but his innate mod- esty, keeping his private losses from the gossips, causes him to hesitate from negotiating a mort- gage. Hence, when he is short, he prefers to make a private deal with me.” ‘‘Did Mr. Glenroy ever deposit with you a solid gold diamond ring, inside of which circlet were the initials ‘ C. C.° ?” The pawnbroker looked surprised, ‘‘He did!” be responded, after a moment’s hesitation. ‘*‘ He has done so frequently. I— By the way, that is his ring at the bell. I know it perfectly.” ‘¢Then secrete me, so that I can overhear what transpires!” Dick instantly suggested. Of the opinion that it would be advisable to do so, the pawnbroker conducted the detective be- hind a partition, where he could hear without being seen. The door automatically swung open and Glen- roy entered the store, and was greeted effu- sively by the pawnbroker. ‘‘ My dear Mr. Glenroy,” he said, “‘I am ve glad to see you. How is your health, may ask?” ‘‘ Better than my pocketbook,” was the re- sponse. ‘‘1’m short again, and must have some money. Here’s the ring. Give me the most on it youcan, I and the old lady have had a split, and all’s over between us.” ‘‘How much do you want on the diamond, Mr. Glenroy?” ‘* Five hundred dollars. If I fail to redeem it to-morrow, it is yours.” | ‘‘ Very well, sir; I am always ready to ac- commodate you! Give me the ring, and I will give you the money.” The exchange was made, and then Moses said: “So you have really left your wife, do-I un- derstand?” . ‘“ Yes—now, and for all time. We have not lived in harmony of late, and I saw fit to pull out. ‘There’s little comfort in living with a wo- man who spends more than half a man can make and runs him in debt besides, when she has plenty of money of her own.” ‘‘No, I should say not. Mr. Glenroy, what has become of Calvin Cool?” ** Calvin Cool?” It was Deadwood Dick who, advancing from bebind the partition, accosted Mr. Glenroy. ‘* Yes, Calvin Cool,” persisted Dick, surveying the s lator, sternly. “ Who is Calvin Coul, pray?’ was the query that followed. ‘‘ The busband of your present alleged wife, sir. Your wife as you suppose ber to be, ran away from her husband in the Far West, taking with her one of ber daughters, and all her bus- band’s money and diamonds, the latter amount- ing to a very large sum. She came East, and eventually married you, After a time, her bus- band obtained traces of her whereabouts, and came here to Boston to effect a restitution of his vanished fortune. Since his arrival here, noth- ing has been seen or heard of him, and his daughter has come East in search of him, and employed me to assist her.” ‘Well, sir, 1am sure that I know of no suc = as you mention, nor of his whereabouts. hen I married my present wife, I understood that she was a widow. If she deceived me, I am sure I am not to blame,” : ‘‘Oh! of course not. But I didn’t know but you might know something of Mr. Cool’s where- abouts. Where do you live, Mr. Glenroy?” ‘¢ Well, to tell the truth, my wife and I have Stage and our former residence is closed up. wife and her daughter have gone to the y¥ Wet House, while myself and two sons are quartered elsewhere.” ¥ “Do think Mrs. Glenroy might know where Mr. Cool is?”